“The requirements are forming in my mind … changing … changing … there! Did you get it?”

“It’s exactly what I asked for, but it’s not what I want. Change it.”

 

Changes Ahead

 

Changing requirements was a problem, it is still a problem and it will continue to be a problem. This is actually a real-world issue that most major companies in the world have to deal with. Stakeholders change their minds. That’s how it works. They always do, always will. And it’s not about to change. This can occur because of one or more of the following reasons:

1. The Scope of the Project was not negotiated properly.
2. The requirements were elicited from the wrong stakeholder (source).
3. The requirements were ambiguous
4. The requirements were incomplete.
5. The requirements were not documented.
6. The requirements were not verified and validated.
7. The Business Analyst (BA) was incompetent. (i.e. BA Malpractice)
8. A stakeholder deliberately provides the Analyst with the wrong information. (i.e. Political sabotage)

If requirements are frequently changing, then the project cost, schedule and/or scope will be impacted.

‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’

To prevent changing requirements it is important the we ensure that the project scope is properly defined. The right stakeholders are involved. The requirements are unambiguous and complete. The requirements are verified and validated. The BA must understand his/her role and apply professionalism and existing science to the collection and refinement of requirements. Remember, it is better to try to prevent problems in the first place, rather than trying to fix them once they arise.

What do you do if the requirements are frequently changing?

A pricing policy where the price you pay is based on the quality of the seminar.

Price is what you pay, value is what you get. ~ Warren Buffett

Where participants set the price they consider fair, after the seminar is completed. Here is how it would work:

1. At the end of each seminar, each participant should be required to complete a survey.
2. Click here to view a sample Classroom Seminar Survey
3. Click here to view a sample Online Seminar Survey
4. Each question on the survey uses a scale of 1 to 7
5. The average response is calculated for all participants at a specific seminar.
6. The price each participant pays will be calculated using the average response of the class.
7. For Example, if the seminar costs $100 and the attendee’s average response is calculated as 6, then each attendee will pay $86.00

Why not?

The potential benefits to seminar providers, and seminar participants, can be huge. If you think not, I would be interested to understand exactly why not.

www.mooreseminars.com